Discounts and saving money in LucerneSave money in Switzerland

Even though Switzerland is one of the most expensive countries in the world, there are ways to save. The time invested in keeping informed will be worth the savings.

Saving money in Switzerland

Because of the generally high cost of living in Switzerland, opportunities to save money are a welcome relief. There are several ways to save money in Switzerland - all it takes is a bit of research and the right information.

Save money on clothes and household goods

Seasonal sales in Switzerland are held in January and July so it can be worth the wait to find bargains during these months. Department stores are a good place to start. Another great place to search for affordable hidden gems is in Lucerne's "Brokenstube" or second hand shops. These can be excellent places to find china, glassware, books, furniture and more.

Save money on transport

Even though petrol is cheaper in Switzerland than the rest of Europe, using public transport instead of owning a car can save you money. The Swiss public transport system is efficient, reliable, clean and safe. Read more about it in the article Getting around Lucerne. Another affordable transport alternative is Mobility car sharing.

You should also take advantage of Switzerland's well-organised and extensive bicycle route networks, listed on Swiss Trails.

Save money with last-minute and budget hotel rooms

As with retail sales, waiting before booking holiday accommodation can pay off. If your plans are flexible, booking accommodation at the last minute through Swiss Hotel Portal or Swiss budget hotels can be worthwhile. Also try searching for budget hotels and holiday deals in Switzerland on REKA or considering staying in a hostel.

Supermarkets and loyalty programmes

Because of their bulk buying power, prices in supermarkets are generally lower than in smaller shops. Search for weekly special deals on Aktionis (DE) to save on basic household items. Items that are close to their sell-by date will be marked down.

Cost saving tip: A good time to shop for discounted food is after 5 pm on weekdays and on Saturday afternoons shortly before store closing times.

Many larger retailers run points-based loyalty programmes with cash-back vouchers and other offers. Two such programs are the Migros Cumulus card (DE/FR/IT) and the Coop Supercard (DE/FR/IT).

Border shopping

Shopping in countries across the Swiss border helps to save money on groceries, clothing and household goods. The tax-free limit is CHF 300 per person. However, there are some special regulations concerning certain goods for tourist traffic across the border.

Online shopping

Online shops like Ricardo (DE/FR), Tutti (DE/FR) and ebay.ch (DE) can also be great places to find deals. However, when purchasing items online, make sure to check that they will be shipped from within Switzerland. If not, they will be subject to potentially steep VAT fees.

Save money on phone calls

Comparing prices of products and services

Price comparison sites such as Comparis or Toppreise are useful tools to consult in order to find the best prices on a range of products and services. Einkaufen und Sparen (DE) is a programme to help you receive packages from Germany that do not normally ship here.

Air travel bargains

Frequent flyer programmes offer air travel savings and special deals from partners. One commonly used air miles programme in Switzerland is Lufthansa's Miles and More. Easy Jet is another popular choice for cheap air travel. Catch flights from Basel, Geneva and limited flights from Zurich. Also check Vornesitzen (DE) for travel deals.

Luzia is a relocation consultant with Packimpex, working in the Zug and Lucerne area. She is Swiss and lives in the area of Luzern. Luzia travelled the world, working as a flight attendant for Swissair during 12 years.

provided by

Take control of your relocation

Free guidance and support lets you take control of your own relocation.